Northern Senators Mourn Sardauna Abubakar Alhaji, Hail Enduring Patriotic Legacy Nationwide
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Kingsley Joshua
ABUJA – Nigeria on Thursday lost one of its most respected elder statesmen as the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) mourned the death of the Sardaunan Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, describing his passing as the end of an era of patriotic service, exemplary leadership and selfless dedication to nation-building.
Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji died in Abuja at the age of 87, drawing an outpouring of tributes from political leaders and traditional institutions across the country. The Northern Senators Forum said it received news of his death with “deep sadness and heavy hearts,” while expressing total submission to the will of Almighty Allah.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the forum described the late Sardaunan Sokoto as a distinguished public servant whose decades of service left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s governance and public administration.
The senators recalled that the late elder statesman served Nigeria in several strategic positions, including Minister of State for Budget and Planning in 1988, Minister of Finance between 1990 and 1991, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1992 to 1996.
According to the forum, Alhaji rose through the ranks of the civil service to become a Permanent Secretary, where he earned national respect for his integrity, discipline and commitment while serving in the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Industries and National Planning.
The lawmakers further noted that his emergence as Sardaunan Sokoto in 1990, succeeding the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, symbolised continuity of visionary leadership in Northern Nigeria, adding that he discharged the revered traditional responsibility with humility, wisdom and unwavering devotion until his death.
“He served as a bridge between government, the traditional institution and the people, while remaining an accomplished administrator and patriot whose contributions to national development will endure for generations,” the statement said.
The forum prayed for Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus and grant his family, the Sokoto Caliphate, the government and people of Sokoto State, as well as Nigerians, the strength to bear what it described as an irreplaceable national loss.
It also extended its condolences to the bereaved family and all Nigerians, saying the country had lost one of its finest public servants and an iconic statesman whose legacy of honour and service would remain a source of inspiration for future generations.
